R G Books

Amazing restaurant for a chill night. I don’t even bother with going to the Vinos side because RG Books is much more comfortable. It has dim lighting and comfy booths with candles on the tables. The food is delicious, and it’s a great spot to have a romantic and relaxed dinner.

I frequented RG Books a lot in undergrad and recently went back for a visit. I would have given it five stars at that time, but my most recent visit showed that the bar menu (especially the martinis, which it was known for) has contracted. I asked for a drink that they didn’t have all the ingredients for but the bartender made some substitutions with fresh citrus and simple syrup and it turned out great! The atmosphere is what really makes this place: speakeasy-​meets-​library. We had fun flipping through some of the random books: some ancient volume written in Chinese, an old tome of short stories, and a medical textbook on renal disease from the 1970s. Fun!
This is one of the most unique bars in the CR area due to its atmosphere. It’s romantic and quiet, great for dates or for small (4 – 6 people) groups of friends.

LOVE this place. The bartender was great, the drinks were tasty, and the food was amazing. All at a very reasonable price. I will go here every chance I get.

VERY tasty! Clam chowder, salad, sausage over polenta. The chowder had a wonderful garlic cream base with clams and gnocchi. The salad simple. The sausage and polenta was a bowl of good!
I see about bringing a group!

This is a classic cocktail/​speakeasy style bar in Cedar Rapids on one side and an Italian restaurant on the other. I had food here once when I was a adolescent, so I can’t really gauge their food. The menu prices were above $ 20 on entrees, but what I saw did look good.
But what I do want to talk about is their bar. In the bar area, you are surrounded by books on the wall. They have sunk-​in couches under the bookshelves with tables a plenty on one side and tables for sitting at on the other. The sunk-​in couches are an extremely nice touch for getting closer to a nice young lady or just for a comfortable party of 6. The cocktail menu is extensive as I think you will fine in Cedar Rapids. All the cocktails/​martinis are all the classics you can imagine and will run you $ 7.50 to $ 10. Though it seems expensive, they are not easy on the liquor and you seem to get about 2 and a half shots out of a classic martini. They had around 7 beers on tap with about 4 of them being micro-​brews. The wine-​by-​the-​glass menu was fairly extensive with around 12 reds and 12 whites. This is a must stop for a date in town or if you are with a small group of friends.

Hidden secret. Best drinks. Great apps. Can’t wait to go back to CR just to come here.